Securable computer data cables and ports

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device comprising: a female port configured to receive a data connector, the data connector comprising a surface with a first opening; a first movable member disposed within the female port, the first movable member being configured such that as the data connector is moved into the female port a first portion of the first movable member enters into the first opening; and a first blocking member disposed within the female port, the first blocking member being configured to move to a first blocking position to block the first portion of the first movable member from exiting the first opening after the first portion of the first movable member has entered the first opening. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising:
 a female port configured to receive a data connector, the data connector comprising a surface with a first opening; 
 a first movable member disposed within the female port, the first movable member being configured such that as the data connector is moved into the female port a first portion of the first movable member enters into the first opening; 
 a first blocking member disposed within the female port, the first blocking member being configured to move to a first blocking position to block the first portion of the first movable member from exiting the first opening after the first portion of the first movable member has entered the first opening; and 
 a micro-switch that is disposed within the female port and that is in contact with the first movable member to detect whether the first portion of the first movable member has entered into the first opening. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the female port comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port and the data connector comprises a male USB connector. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the USB port and the USB connector each conform to a USB-C 2.1 standard. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first opening comprises a hole, a notch, an indentation, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first movable member comprises an elongated flexible portion having one end and another end; 
 the first portion of the first movable member is located at the one end of the elongated flexible portion; and 
 the another end of the elongated flexible portion is fixed to an inside of the female port. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the elongated flexible portion of the first movable member biases the first portion of the first movable member towards the surface of the data connector to cause the first portion of the first movable member to enter into the first opening in the surface of the data connector. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first blocking member is further configured to move to an unblocking position such that the first portion of the first movable member can exit from the first opening as the data connector is removed from the female port. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first blocking member is part of a micro-actuator. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the first movable member has a structural configuration to allow the first portion of the first movable member to be pushed out of the first opening as the data connector is removed from the female port. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and 
 a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 detecting, via a detection mechanism comprising the micro-switch, whether the first portion of the first movable member is in the first opening, resulting in a detection; and 
 responsive to the detection, taking an action. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 responsive to the detection being that the first portion of the first movable member is in the first opening, the action comprises permitting a flow of electric current between the female port and the data connector. 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 responsive to the detection being that the first portion of the first movable member is not in the first opening, the action comprises prohibiting a flow of electric current between the female port and the data connector. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the data connector comprises a second opening, and wherein the device further comprises:
 a second movable member disposed within the female port, the second movable member being configured such that as the data connector is moved into the female port a second portion of the second movable member enters into the second opening; and 
 a second blocking member disposed within the female port, the second blocking member being configured to move to a second blocking position to block the second portion of the second movable member from exiting the second opening after the second portion of the second movable member has entered the second opening. 
 
     
     
       14. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving a first signal from a detection mechanism disposed within a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, the USB port being configured to receive a USB connector comprising a surface with an opening, the first signal indicating that the USB connector has been inserted into the USB port to a predetermined position; and 
 responsive to receiving the first signal, sending to the USB port a second signal, the USB port comprising a locking member disposed therein, the locking member being activated by the second signal to cause a structure to be held within the opening, the activation of the locking member blocking removal of the USB connector back out of the USB port. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 determining whether the USB connector is allowed to be removed from the USB port, resulting in a determination; and 
 responsive to the determination being that the USB connector is allowed to be removed from the USB port, sending a third signal to the USB port, the locking member being de-activated by the third signal, the de-activation of the locking member permitting removal of the USB connector back out of the USB port. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the structure blocks removal of the USB connector back out of the USB port via an interference fit with the opening. 
     
     
       17. A method comprising:
 determining, by a processing system including a processor, whether a male Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector has been inserted into a USB port to a predetermined position, the male USB connector comprising a surface with an opening, the determining resulting in a determination; 
 responsive to the determination being that the male USB connector has been inserted into the USB port to the predetermined position, transmitting a lock signal to a lock actuator disposed within a cavity of the female USB port, the lock actuator being activated by the locking signal to cause a latch member to be held within the opening, the activation of the lock actuator blocking removal of the male USB connector back out of the female USB port; 
 receiving, by the processing system, an instruction to allow the removal of the male USB connector from the female USB port; and 
 responsive to receipt of the instruction, transmitting by the processing system a release signal to the lock actuator, the lock actuator being de-activated by the release signal, the de-activation of the lock actuator enabling removal of the male USB connector from the female USB port. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the instruction to allow the removal of the male USB connector from the female USB port is received via user input, via a remote device, or any combination thereof. 
 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 14 , wherein the USB port and the USB connector each conform to a USB-C 2.1 standard. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 17 , wherein the female USB port and the male USB connector each conform to a USB-C 2.1 standard.